Workplace health and safety

When you open premises, you become legally responsible for the health and safety of any employees, visitors, people nearby and anyone affected by products and services you design, produce or supply.

Registering your business

Most new employers are not required to register their premises with either with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) or their local authority. However, if your business works with dangerous substances, such as asbestos, or in a hazardous industry, you may require a licence in order to operate or be required to register with the Health and Safety Executive or your local authority.

If you’re uncertain about your legal obligations, visit the HSE website, which contains a wealth of information and advice.

Health and safety risk assessments

Whatever the nature of your premises, they must meet minimum health and safety standards – although best practice is advised. Begin by carrying out a risk assessment. Consider places where people might be injured or made sick.

Identify hazards such as cables, loose floor tiles or spillages that could cause someone to slip, trip or fall. Also assess exposure to hazardous substances, excessive noise, moving vehicles and fire risks.

Record your findings and decide what action to take. Review your risk assessment at least every six months or when your business changes significantly. If you employ five or more people, your risk assessment must be written down.

Employees’ health and safety rights

You must safeguard your employees’ welfare, so find out about your obligations before you take on your first employee. By way of introduction, you must provide: clean toilets, hand basins, soap and a means to dry hands (mixed-gender facilities are allowed if they’re enclosed and lockable from the inside); fresh drinking water; sufficient space (11 cubic metres per person is recommended by the HSE) and good lighting and ventilation.

Working areas must be kept clean, which includes removing waste regularly. The layout of your premises must enable people to walk about safely, so make sure there aren’t any obstacles or cables that could cause someone to trip or fall.

The temperature within your premises should be at least 16ºC if employees largely remain stationary, while 13ºC is an acceptable minimum if employees move around.

You must provide employees with a rest area. Employees who wear special clothing or staff uniforms must have a changing area, too. If employees smoke, set aside an external area away from doors and windows so that others aren’t affected by smoke. Makes sure employees are aware of your smoking policy.

Taking responsibility for health and safety

Plan how your business will manage serious incidents. First aid kits should be kept accessible to all. You should also have an accident book and a system for reporting serious injuries, diseases and incidents to the relevant authorities.

Also make sure your policy accounts for the health, safety and welfare of people (usually customers) with disabilities, pregnant women and children.

Make one or more person responsible for health and safety within your business. Provide health and safety training for all employees, taking into account particular risks they face and detail any specific health and safety responsibilities in their employment contracts.

Get health and safety posters or leaflets from the HSE and use signage where necessary. Communicate your policy to all employees and anyone else that could be affected by your business.

More on this topic:

• Q&A: Health and safety rules
• How my business complies with rules and regulations

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